LEST WE FORGET
Flight Sergeant Basil Oliver LOWE
Service No: 412555
Born: Ashfield NSW, 9 June 1918
Enlisted in the RAAF: 19 July 1941
Unit: No. 4 Operational Training Unit
Died: Aircraft Accident (No. 4 Operational Training Unit Vengeance aircraft A27-91), Nelson Bay NSW, 7 April 1944, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Newcastle (Sandgate) War Cemetery, NSW
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Albert Ernest and Beatrice Amy Lowe, of Marrickville
Roll of Honour: Sydney NSW
Remembered: Panel 112, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall, Sandgate NSW
During a moving target height dive bombing exercise on the 7 April 1944, Vultee Vengeance A27-91 was too late in pulling out of its dive and struck the water when about to pull out. The aircraft crashed in Nelson’s Bay and the crew of two was killed. The aircraft remained visible under the water enabling the bodies of the crew members to be recovered.
The crew members of A27-91 were:
Flight Sergeant Basil Oliver Lowe (412555) (Navigator under conversion)
Pilot Officer James Percival Plastow (6734) (Pilot under conversion)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veterans’ Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/25/133; A945, 220
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line